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On May 5, the Vermont Senate passed legislation to protect biodiversity and improve climate resilience (H.606). The bill passed on a unanimous voice vote. The bill now heads to the Governor for his signature. This policy was a recommendation of the state’s Climate Action Plan, adopted in December 2021.
This bill is a top priority of the Forest Partnership, which is composed of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, The Nature Conservancy in Vermont, Audubon Vermont, Trust for Public Land, Vermont Land Trust, and Vermont Conservation Voters.Given current and future development pressures on Vermont’s landscape, alongside historic biodiversity loss and climate change, this bill calls for the creation of a statewide conservation plan that identifies a full range of conservation approaches to employ. Working with stakeholders from private landowners to land trusts, working land businesses, and the public at-large, the Agency of Natural Resources will be responsible for determining the tools, programs, and mechanisms needed to advance the conservation of 30% of our land by 2030 and 50% by 2050.“As highlighted in H.606, working with willing landowners to achieve land conservation is a vital strategy to promote healthy forests, habitat connectivity, outdoor recreation, sustainable forestry, public health, and climate resilient communities,” said Jamey Fidel, Forest and Wildlife Program Director for Vermont Natural Resources Council.According to the U.S. Forest Service, Vermont is losing upwards of 14,500 acres of forestland per year to development, causing significant impacts to our forest ecosystem health and our natural and working lands economy. Informally referred to as “30 x 30”, this bill aligns Vermont with the federal America the Beautiful Initiative launched by President Biden in an Executive Order to “conserve, connect, and restore 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 for the sake of our economy, our health, and our well-being.”“This would be an ambitious step towards protecting the state’s biodiversity, climate resiliency and making the outdoors accessible to all Vermonters,” noted Shelby Semmes, Vice President of Trust for Public Land, New England Region.“At a time when Vermont’s forests and fields are bursting with the songs of recently returned migratory birds, our legislature has passed an important law requiring the state government to chart a path for protecting our natural and open spaces,” said David Mears, Executive Director of Audubon Vermont. “This law to protect biodiversity and promote climate resilience comes at a time when sprawl and the climate catastrophe have combined to create an unprecedented threat to the green hills and silver waters that Vermont’s birds, wildlife, and people need to thrive.”
“In recognition of increasing climate change-driven natural hazards, coupled with unprecedented biodiversity collapse, the 30×30 conservation approach was identified as a priority climate adaptation and resilience strategy in the state’s Climate Action Plan late last year,” said Lauren Oates, Director of Policy & Government Relations at The Nature Conservancy in Vermont. “We are grateful for the Legislature’s work in advancing this strategy and look forward to supporting the development of a comprehensive conservation plan for Vermont.”
Enactment of H.606 will:
H.466, a new bill that will help Vermont protect its surface waters, passed second reading in the Vermont Senate today. Its recent passage in both the Vermont House and the Senate represents a significant step toward thoughtful climate-resilient protections for our rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, while ensuring equitable access for surface water users in the future.
Connecticut River Conservancy, Conservation Law Foundation, National Wildlife Federation’s Northeast Regional Center, Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited, and Vermont Natural Resources Council released the following statements as the bill moves back to the House before heading to the Governor’s desk.
“H.466 is important to all of those who rely on surface water for their business and those who enjoy numerous outdoor activities including fishing and swimming. In the face of increased droughts due to climate change, we are hopeful that this bill will result in equitable access to surface water for users, while protecting the ecosystems of our streams and rivers. Vermont is behind our neighboring states in providing this protection,” said Kathy Urffer of the Connecticut River Conservancy.
“As the climate crisis threatens watersheds across Vermont, it’s critical that we take decisive action to protect this invaluable resource,” said Conservation Law Foundation attorney Mason Overstreet. “While this bill is a huge step forward, it’s disappointing that legislators have exempted the agriculture industry from greater oversight. Still, this will begin the process to protect our waters and ensure their resilience for years to come, and the House must pass it.”
“Unregulated water withdrawals from rivers and lakes have been a simmering issue for fishers for a long time because we see them while participating in our sport, and know that no one is paying attention to them,” said David Deen, former state representative and council member of the Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited.
“As a member of the Study Committee appointed by the Legislature last year to develop H.466, I am disappointed that the Senate Agriculture Committee, and likely now the Senate, has exempted agriculture from accountability for water diversions, ignoring the Study Group’s expert recommendation that everyone has to be part of the solution, but what remains of the original legislation is certainly a step forward,” Deen offered.
Jon Groveman of the Vermont Natural Resources Council stated, “It is important that Vermonters understand that the State has little to no knowledge of the overall impact of these unregistered and unregulated water withdrawals from our rivers and lakes.”
As periods of drought increase and seasonal weather patterns grow more erratic, and we face increased developmental pressure, demands for surface water from industrial, agricultural, and municipal users are growing. Simultaneously, no standards exist under Vermont law to protect downstream users access to the amount of water that remains in a stream after a withdrawal. Only a few select surface water users are required to report and apply for a permit, including ski areas withdrawing water for snowmaking, de minimus users, and those triggering a federal water quality certificate. As a result, the State has little to no knowledge of the impact of water withdrawals.
In response to this issue, two years ago, the Legislature passed Act 173, which convened an expert study group to investigate and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the environmental, economic, and recreational impacts of surface water diversions, including the transfer of surface water between watersheds. H.466 is the product and recommendation of that study group, which sets forth future actions that will be informed by registration and monitoring data from existing withdrawals.
Headline News:
- “This Solar-Powered Plane Could Stay In The Air For Months” • The solar powered airplane Solar Impulse 2 circumnavigated the Earth powered entirely by sunlight in 2016. In 2019, the airplane was sold to Skydweller Aero, a US-Spanish startup, with the intention of turning the plane into the world’s first commercially viable “pseudo-satellite.” [CNN]
Skydweller taking off (Skydweller Aero Inc)
- “Drought Expands In The Southwest, Worsening The Region’s Fire Risk And Water Crisis” • Drought conditions worsened in much of the Southwest over the past week, according to the latest update from the US Drought Monitor, deepening the region’s water crisis and fueling record-setting wildfires. More than 98% of the Southwest is in drought this week. [CNN]
- “New Law In France: Green Roofs On All New Commercial Buildings” • The French Parliament approved a law requiring all new commercial buildings to partially have their roofs covered with plants or solar panels. The law will apply to all new buildings in commercial zones. Environmentalists had wanted the roofs to be completely covered by greenery. [CleanTechnica]
- “Europe Is Planning To Ditch Russia’s Oil. Will It Go After Its Gas?” • Europe has proposed a ban on Russian oil, but has again stopped short of sanctioning Russia’s natural gas, a more potent move. The European Commission’s sixth package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, would phase out all crude and oil products by the end of the year. [CNN]
- “DOJ Announces New Office To Enforce Laws Around Climate Crisis, Toxic Pollution” • Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department is opening an office specializing in environmental justice efforts. The Office of Environmental Justice is part of a strategy to prioritize the issue, with a focus on the climate crisis. [CNN]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Jamestown: America’s First English Settlement Is Now Endangered” • One of the most important historic sites in the US has been put on a list of endangered places. Preservation groups warn that Jamestown, Virginia, the first successful English colony in America, may not survive another generation because of climate change. [BBC]
Historic Jamestown (Pi3.124, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
- “Ukraine War: How Germany Is Getting Rid Of Russian Oil” • Since the invasion the German government has dramatically reduced its dependence on Russian oil from 35% to 12%, all of which comes to the refinery in the town of Schwedt, in north-eastern Germany. Germany has managed to pivot away from Russian oil quicker than expected. [BBC]
- “Enough Raw Metals To Make 14 Million Electric Cars Globally In 2023 – Study” • There is enough lithium and nickel available to produce 14 million electric cars globally in 2023 even without Russian supplies, a study into the short-term availability of raw materials shows. The study was carried out by Transport & Environment. [CleanTechnica]
- “World’s Second-Largest Hydropower Plant Set For 14-Year Upgrade After Deal With GE” • GE Renewable Energy has signed a deal that will see it carry out upgrades to the 14-GW Itaipu hydropower plant, a vast facility straddling the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Itaipu started production in 1984. The upgrade will last 14 years. [CNBC]
- “Sila To Build Next Generation Batteries In Washington State” • Sila Nanotechnologies is working with Mercedes and BMW on batteries that use silicon for anodes instead of carbon. The result is batteries that are less expensive and more energy dense. The company announced it will convert a facility in Washington State to produce 10 GWh of batteries. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “New Class Of Hydrogen Ship Design From C-Job” • C-Job Naval Architects designed a new class of liquid hydrogen tanker that may revolutionize the renewable energy market. The tanker concept, developed in partnership with LH2 Europe, is a critical element in realizing a green end-to-end liquid hydrogen supply chain. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Hydrogen ship (Courtesy of C-Job Naval Architects)
- “Tesla Now Makes More Money Than GM And Ford” • For the longest time, GM and Ford have been the kings of this industry, but that is no longer true. Tesla is now making more money than General Motors and Ford. An article in The Street highlighted this Tesla achievement, noting that the world leader in EVs is taking trophies GM and Ford used to win. [CleanTechnica]
- “Lake Powell Officials Take Unprecedented, Emergency Steps To Delay Water Releases As Level Plummets” • The federal government announced unprecedented steps to help boost water levels at Lake Powell. The measures are intended to buy the surrounding communities more time to plan for what happens if the reservoir runs out of water. [CNN]
- “Biden Admin: $3.16 Billion From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law To Boost Domestic And Battery Manufacturing” • The US DOE said that $3.1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will fund more batteries and components in America, bolster domestic supply chains, create good-paying jobs, and help lower costs for families. [CleanTechnica]
- “Study Finds Offshore Wind Could Drive Down Energy Costs In New England” • A new analysis led by North Carolina State University researchers found offshore wind power could help lower wholesale electricity prices on average for six states in New England, with relatively low risk of wind turbines failing during extreme winter storms. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
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